Waterlands

Species guide · Connecticut

Bluefish fishing in Connecticut

Pomatomus saltatrix, a nearshore species also called blues, choppers and snapper blues. Listed for the New England region. Peak season, about 2 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Long Island Sound East of New Haven CT/Port Jefferson NY to the Mouth of the Connecticut River at 75, one of 2 Connecticut bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Peak season
Where it's scoring nowAll Connecticut waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

New England

Peak season, about 2 more weeks
  1. Jan: Not present
  2. Feb: Not present
  3. Mar: Not present
  4. Apr: Not present
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Off season
  12. Dec: Not present

Peak: Jun to Jul, Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Oct.

Research notes, New England region

Arrive in May once water passes the high 50s F, feed on rips, shoals and harbor mouths through summer, and school up again on the fall run in September and October. Snapper blues fill harbors in late summer.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 2

Connecticut bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's bluefish score this hour.

1
75Great
Long Island Sound East of New Haven CT/Port Jefferson NY to the Mouth of the Connecticut River

Best window today 8-10 PM (75) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (83) · 76 named spots

2
75Great
Long Island Sound East of the Mouth of the Connecticut River

Best window today 8-9 PM (75) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (83) · 89 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 55°F to 84°F, best between 64°F and 75°F.
Water depth
3 to 70 ft of water.
Structure
Rip, inlet, shoal, surf, point, jetty, pier and bay, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water and outgoing tide, with strong current.Bluefish feed where current concentrates bait: rips, inlet mouths and shoal edges on a hard-running tide. The ebb out of inlets pushes bait to waiting fish. Slack water usually slows the bite.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Bluefish travel in size-sorted schools and feed where tide pushes bait past structure: inlet mouths, rips, shoal edges and the surf line, mostly in water shallower than 60 feet. Look for birds and breaking bait and cast metal or poppers into it, or soak cut bunker or mullet on the bottom from the beach. Use a short wire or heavy leader because their teeth cut light line.

Methods
casting, surf casting, trolling, chunking, jigging, fly fishing
Lures
metal spoons, diamond jigs, topwater poppers, swimming plugs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic jerkbaits
Bait
cut menhaden (bunker), cut or finger mullet, live peanut bunker, squid strips

Regulations

CT DEEP saltwater regulations Buy a Connecticut fishing license License types

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Synced with CT DEEP Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed bluefish rule for Connecticut is on file yet. Check with CT DEEP before you keep one.

Other Connecticut species